What Happens When You Push the Button?

What happens when you push the button depends on the design of the machine that the button controls. In our case, “the machine” consists of resources provided by Thinkific, the learning management system platform where we build our courses, and ConvertKit, the Email automation system that allows us to have effective and efficient communication with a growing customer base. Given the response so far, we feel we have good reason to “be prepared”.

Without question, it took us a while to get to the button-pushing stage – a lot of learning, doubtful days, especially during a particularly long, grey, Vancouver Island winter. But Spring has become summer now, everything is bright and sunny, there’s natural “air conditioning”, and it’s got us motivated! We got our free beta course in place with all its components, and pushed the “publish” button on May 23rd.

So, what were our considerations in designing our machine? First came ideas for content, the stuff that fuels the thing. As a teacher, how could I provide quality instruction to anyone, anywhere, without physically being there? Thanks to the wonderful combo of Screenflow Display Recorder and Thinkific, I believe we’ve achieved that goal!

Next came learning about and using ConvertKit. Its automated Email management component connects us to potential customers, who may opt to receive more information about our course format and teaching philosophy. Given that the latter is being hailed as a new and original approach, we’re very happy, since the number of inquiries is encouraging, and we’re learning how we might boost it over time.

Meanwhile, we have also done a bit of advertising to get a feel for what works. A five-dollar ad on Blind Bargains and a mention on Top Tech Tidbits got us well over 300 “clicks”. We’ve also had a good response from various Facebook and LinkedIn groups, and on Twitter.

While we understand that one purpose of a blog is obviously to get the company and products better known, writing it has another, equally important purpose, in that it helps us to document and share our journey into entrepreneurialism. I mean, if we can do it, then so can lots of other people, especially if they can collaborate in ways that add value to the lives of others. After all, that’s what good and successful entrepreneurialism is all about. See? We’ve been studying!

And, given the increasing scarcity and uncertainty of traditional employment, particularly where negative reaction to job accommodation for supposed “special needs” is concerned, it’s definitely worth exploring entrepreneurialism as a viable option for becoming self-sufficient, right?

Of course, “The iHabilitation Man” continues his weekly appearances on AMI’s Kelly and Company, and on Wednesday, June 7, we have the privilege of being guest presenters, via the internet, at the weekly community meeting of Toronto’s Inclusive Design Research Centre (IDRC) which is part of OCAD University. Then, on Saturday, June 10, we’ll be on Alan Perry’s TechTalk show on CFAX 1070 to discuss the potential accessibility improvements in iOS 11 to be released this fall. (Yes, this show will be available as a podcast.)

Finally, we are looking at accessible webinar software for future use. Software from Zoom and Ecamm will allow us to present webinars and show videos within them. These features will also us to present our material on Facebook and YouTube. Knowing about these products and their capabilities is all thanks to Michael Babcock from Yourownpay. He is always exploring and willing to teach us all about this great technology with an emphasis on accessibility.

That’s about it for this time. We close this instalment by offering our hearty thanks to everyone who has either signed up or mentioned us to others who might benefit from this new multimedia teaching approach to “iPhone Eyes-Free”.